Eastern UP is central to BJP themes with the politics around Ayodhya, the religious significance of sites such as Varanasi, as well as the seat of PM Modi and the home turf of CM Yogi. For the Congress, it presents a challenge as well as an opportunity to reclaim a legacy.

The Indian Express has learnt that there is disquiet among a section of the judges, regarding “the sudden move to just shelve the decisions arrived at in December, without either making that decision public, or stating why it needed to be reversed”.

On Verma’s transfer, he said, “On the face of it, as the Supreme Court only pointed out to the procedural infirmity of not calling the committee, that was done by the government and used to transfer the CBI chief.”

Justice Patnaik told The Indian Express: “There was no evidence against Verma regarding corruption. The entire enquiry was held on Asthana’s complaint. I have said in my report that none of the findings in the CVC’s report are mine.”

If the senior-most judge is appointed the CJI, as has been the norm but for twice in independent India, then Justices S A Bobde, N V Ramanna, U U Lalit and D Y Chandrachud, are set to be the next four chief justices.